Access Recreation New England

Access Recreation New England Access Rec New England is a platform for connecting people with disabilities with recreation opportunities & supporting professionals who make it happen!

HISTORY

Access Recreation New England was started in 2008 when a group of adaptive and therapeutic recreation providers kept bumping into each other at local events, realizing that they had much to share without quite the right forum. With a brief mention of the then "Greater Boston Access to Recreation" in a grant application, the Shapiro Foundation's interest was piqued. Acting as a connecting force and providing meeting space and the occasional lunch, the Shapiro Foundation helped to give what is now Access Recreation Boston a solid place to start from. In the fall of 2011, Greater Boston Access to Recreation (GBAR) hosted its first event, a "speed networking" forum attended by 24 local professionals. It was one of the first events of its kind, bringing together adaptive recreation professionals from across the region in various sports, disciplines and disabilities served. The overarching call-to-action from this meeting was the demand to organize more formally and create a 'clearing-house' of recreational opportunities in the Greater Boston area. Since then, GBAR then names Access Recreation Boston has hosted eight conferences attended by as many as 85 professionals, with keynotes including Paralympic athletes Cheri Blauwet, Maureen McKinnon, Ernst Van Dyk, and Joe Walsh, and sessions ranging from grant writing and risk management to adaptive equipment and inclusion strategies. In 2019, the projects name was changed from Access Recreation Boston to its current name, Access Recreation New England. This better reflects the organizations who partner with ARNE and who benefit from us. Working closely with local professionals as well as the Boston Disability Task Force, we hear again and again the need for a single point of reference for individuals with disabilities to discover the multitude of local recreation opportunities already available. We hear how valuable it is to connect as a field, to know the people behind other programs in order to make the best referrals, and how programs want to improve the quality of their services in addition to expanding outreach.

We wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!!
12/22/2025

We wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!!

12/18/2025

🤠❄️ Ski-A-Thon 2026 registration is OPEN! ❄️⛷️

Saddle up and head west - the Maine Adaptive Ski-A-Thon is riding into Sunday River on March 22, 2026, and this year’s theme is Wild West!

Sign up solo or round up a posse and form a team. Raise $300 and you’ll earn:
✅ Lift ticket
✅ Lunch
✅ A fun on-snow race
✅ An epic après party

Every dollar raised helps make outdoor adventures accessible to all.

Register now and let’s ride! 🤠 https://masr.rallybound.org/

12/18/2025
12/18/2025
** Education opportunity-Mental Health First Aid Training Webinars with the Northeast Arc
12/11/2025

** Education opportunity-

Mental Health First Aid Training Webinars with the Northeast Arc

Do you want to learn how you can help help adults, including those with disabilities, facing mental health crises? Starting in January, Northeast Arc is offering a free series of trainings on Mental Health First Aid. During the course you will learn: Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges; common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges; how to interact with someone in crisis; and how to connect a person with help. Trainings will be held monthly in person at NeArc headquarters in Danvers and you can sign up by visiting: bit.ly/NEARCMHFA

12/10/2025

An upcoming Blue Origin flight will mark a first for people with disabilities.

** Grant funding opportunity for organizations that provide services to veterans!!
12/10/2025

** Grant funding opportunity for organizations that provide services to veterans!!

Veteran organizations in Boston, now is your chance to apply for the The Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Services, Bridge The Gap mini-grant.

We are offering grants of up to $10k to organizations improving the lives of Veterans’

To learn more and apply: https://city-of-boston.wizehive.app/program/bridge-the-gap

12/10/2025

As we celebrate the holidays, Easterseals Massachusetts is excited to share that a limited number of free switch-adapted toys are available for kids of all ages and abilities! Toys are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be available for pickup at the MassAbility Assistive Technology Regional Center at our Worcester Headquarters starting December 15. 🎁

Thanks to the generosity of the Boston University College of Engineering Mars Rover Club, these toys were adapted to help support engaging, accessible play. Switch-adapted toys can help children with disabilities explore their environment, build social interactions, and support developmental skills.

To request a toy, please complete the participant form here: https://bit.ly/4iMLAAo

12/10/2025
**Volunteer Opportunity!!
12/10/2025

**Volunteer Opportunity!!

🎿 Jay Peak Volunteers Wanted! 🎿

Fresh snow + excited athletes = slopes full of fun! Love skiing or want to help others enjoy the mountain? Join our volunteer team—training provided!

Be part of an incredible community, get Jay Peak tickets, help everyone access the mountain. Opportunities to volunteer 7 days a week.

Reach out to our Program Manager, Angus McAndrew at jaypeak@adaptivesportspartners.org or 802-441-3279 to get involved!

Address

200 Portland Street
Boston, MA
02114

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Our Story

HISTORY Access Recreation Boston was started in 2008 when a group of adaptive and therapeutic recreation providers kept bumping into each other at local events, realizing that they had much to share without quite the right forum. With a brief mention of the then informal group in a grant application, the Shapiro Foundation's interest was piqued. Acting as a connecting force and providing meeting space and the occasional lunch, the Shapiro Foundation helped to give what is now Access Recreation Boston a solid place from which to start. In the fall of 2011, Access Rec (then GBAR) hosted its first event, a "speed networking" forum attended by 24 local professionals. It was one of the first events of its kind, bringing together adaptive recreation professionals from across the region in various sports, disciplines and disabilities served. The overarching call-to-action from this meeting was the demand to organize more formally and create a 'clearing-house' of recreational opportunities in the Greater Boston area. Since then, Access Rec Boston has hosted twice-yearly conferences attended by as many as 85 professionals, with keynotes including Paralympic athletes Cheri Blauwet, Maureen McKinnon, Ernst Van Dyk, and Joe Walsh, and sessions ranging from grant writing and risk management to adaptive equipment and inclusion strategies. Working closely with local professionals as well as the Boston Disability Task Force, we hear again and again the need for a single hub of information for individuals with disabilities to discover the multitude of local recreation opportunities already available. We hear how valuable it is to connect as a field, to know the people behind other programs in order to make the best referrals, and how programs want to improve the quality of their services in addition to expanding outreach.